To The River!: 2008-2012

Parcel F2 - When Legacy Partners approved plans for phase 2 of LA Media Tech Center began to falter, the community launched a campaign to advocate for Parcel F2 to become the site of a much-needed high school. The LAUSD finally agreed to negotiate for the site, only to have a private developer purchase it out from under them at the last minute. The community was outraged, but in 2006 the LAUSD ultimately acquired Parcel F2 through eminent domain (and the developer walked away with a tidy, un-earned profit) to create Central Region High School #13. The school opened in 2010 as the Sonia Sotomayor Learning Academies, consisting of 2 Independent Charter schools and 3 LAUSD Pilot Schools, including the LA River School.

Parcel C - In 2005, the MTA entered into a joint development agreement with developer McCormack Baron Salazar, Inc. to develop Parcel C largely for residential use, with 62,000 sq ft of community service retail, a 5-acre open space buffer along the rail line, and 2-3 acres set aside for a future light rail stop. The developer met with the community and presented plans throughout 2007, but the housing downturn in 2008 stopped the project cold. In November 2011, McCormak Baron Salazar requested an extension on the agreement that could extend the term of their agreement as far as 2019. In addition, it would reduce the retail space to 26,000 sq ft, and replace a number of for-sale housing units with rental units, among other things.

Parcel G2 - In 2011, the Trammell Crow Company entered into a purchase option agreement with the Union Pacific Railroad with the intention of developing Parcel G2 for industrial use. Members of the Coalition for a State Park at Taylor Yard and many new supporters have communicated our intent to extend the Rio de Los Angeles State Park to the river, and have strongly urged them to drop their option.